Vacuum automatic cutout



VACUUM AUTOMATIC cUToUT Filed Dec. 8, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l VACUUMAUTOMATIC CUTOUVT Filed Dec. s, 19.31 2 Sheng-sheet 2 Patented June 8,1943 UNET ST TES orsi

VACUUM AUTOMATIC CUTGU'R Frederick Saxe, Muskegon, Mich., assignor toGeneral Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a

corporation of Delaware i6 Claims.

lintake manifold vacuum is restored.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means whereby themechanism hereinbe- -fore referred to may be rendered operative or,inoperative by manipulation of the ignition switch.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the device that thecircuit closer for the circuit of the starting motor will remain open,when the accelerator pedal or fuel feed is operated to increase themotor fuel supply, the circuit closer being permitted to close when theoperator takes his foot off the accelerator pedal, or otherwise cuts offthe fuel supply.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 shows in side elevation, a device constructed in accordancewith the invention, mounted on a portion of an automobile; 4

, Figure 2 is a front elevation;

Figure 3 is a top plan;

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken through -the device per se;

Figure`5 is a section on the line 5-5 Vof Fig. 4; Figure 6 is a sectionon the line S--B of Fig. 4; Figure 7 isa section on the line --l of Fig.6.

In Fig. 1, the numeral I designates the vdash board of an automobile,the foot board appearing at 2. The steering column is shown vat 3, andthe accelerator pedal at 4, the pedal 4 being `retracted by acompression spring 5. The accelerator pedal 4 is pivoted to a bell cranklever 6,

fulcrumed intermediate its ends as shown at l. The ignition switch isdiagrammatically indicated by the numeral 8, and includes a handle 9.Movement of the handle `S upwardly closes the circuit through theignition switch. Although the ignition switch 8 is shown as beingmounted on the steering column 3, it might be located elsewhere, withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

The bell crank lever G, see Fig. 3, is connected to operate the throttlevalve 54 of the carbureter V53, said carbureter having its outletleading to the intake manifold 56.

A box-like support I0 is secured Yto the for- Award side -of the dashboard 1I. The support .I0

carries the upper Abinding post Il 'and the lower post I2, located onopposite sides of the support, as Fig. 4 will show, the binding posts,of course, being properly insulated. The binding` post I2, connected toa starting motor 5I, see Fig. 3, carries an upstanding switch terminalI4, located within the support IB. The switchterminal I4 isY adapted tocooperate with a vertically movable switch tongue I5 pivotallymounted onthe binding post Il as indicated at 4S. See Fig. 4. A battery 52connects onto the binding post II as indicated in Fig. 3.

A cylinder l5 is secured to the top of the support It! and has aconnection il, leading to the intake manifold of the Vengine '59, theconstruction being such, in any event, that piston suction istransmittedto the top of the cylinder IB. A lpiston rod I8 reciprocatesin a-gland I9 on the lower end of the cylinder I5, and extendsdownwardly into the support I0. Pistons 2i) and 2| are secured to thepiston rod IB and slide in the cylinder I6. The cylinder I6 has a vent5I.

An adjusting nut 22 is threaded on the piston rod-I8, within the supportI. A compression spring 23 surrounds the piston rod I8. The upper endVof the spring 23 abuts against the gland I9, and

the lower end of the spring abuts against the adjusting nut 22. Thepiston rod I8 carries a lateral armp24, see Fig. 7, said arm being heldfor adjustment on the piston rod by superposed nuts 25. The arm24Vcarries a piece of insulation 26 which contacts with the lowersurface of switch tongue I5.

A slide 2l is mounted for horizontal reciprocation in a guide 28 carriedby the support I0.

The slide 2l has a notch 29 derning a cam 30. v

The cam 3i! cooperates with the insulation 26 on the arm 24 of thepiston rod I8, vto raise the `piston rod I8, and, also, to raise theswitch tongue I5 out of engagement with the switch terminal I4. A link3| is pivoted to the slide 2l and to an arm 32 that is connected to thehandle Y9 of the ignition switch 8.

-Referring to'Figs. 4 and 6, it can be seen that a horizontally movablelever 33 is fulcrumed intermediate its ends atv34 on the casing I. Oneend of the lever 33 extends into the casing, and the other end of thelever extends out of the casing. On the inner end of the lever 33 thereisan upwardly extended, curved iinger 35 adapted to engage under theswitch tongue I5. I.'Ihe inner end of the lever 33 Vslides in a slottedstud 36 carried by the casing I'El. A compression spring 3l surroundsthe stud 35, one end of the compression Vspring engaging the inner endof the lever, and the opposite end of the spring bearing against thecasing I0.

The outer end of the lever 33 cooperates with the upper end of a secondlever 38, located on the side of the casing IB, and fulcrumedintermediate its ends, as shown at 3B, in Fig. 1, on the dash board i,or elsewhere. One end of a link 43 is pivoted to the lower end of thelever 38, and the opposite end of the link 43 is pivoted to the lever 6.As previously mentioned the accelerator pedal 4 is also pivoted onto thelever 6 and pressure downwardly upon the pedal 4 causes movementl of theupper end of the lever 33 towards the dash thus causing the curvedlinger 35 of the lever 313 to move to a position underneath the switchtongue I5 to prevent movement thereof to a contacting and operatingposition.

When the engine is running, and when there is sumcient piston suction inthe connection Il' and in the upper end of thecylinder I6, the pistons25 and 2I raise the piston rod I8, and the arm 24 on the piston rodrides under and swings up the switch arm I5, out of contact with theswitch terminal I4, see Fig. 4 and the circuit of the starting motor 5I,through the binding posts II and I2, is open. The sp-ring 3l swings thelever 33 on its fulcrum 34 until the finger 35 of the lever 33 isunderneath the switch tongue I5,

as shown in Fig. 4. When the engine stops, and

piston suction fails in the connection I'I and in the upper end of thecylinder I5, the piston rod I8 begins to move downwardly, but it cannotmove downwardly to close the switch tongue I5 on the switch terminal I4,because the finger 35 V of the lever 33 supports the switch tongue I5.When the operator takes his loot oi the accelerator pedal 4, the spring5, shown in Fig. 1, moves the parts in the direction of the arrows inFigs. 1 and 6. The upper end of the lever 38 of Fig. 1, engaging theouter end of the lever 330i Fig. 6, moves the lever 33 to the positionof Fig. 6 and withdraws the finger 35 of the lever 33 from beneath theswitch tongue I5. The switch tongue Y I5 then is carried downwardly, bythe action of the spring 23, and closes upon the terminal I4, therebycompleting the circuit through the startingmotor, and putting the engineinto operation.

'When the engine starts the intake manifold vacuum in the connection I'Iand in the cylinder I6 raises the piston rod I8 to the position of Fig.4 or thereabout. When the operator Yputs his foot on the acceleratorpedal and pushes it in a direction opposite to that indicated by thearrow A in Fig. 1, the upper end of the lever 38 is moved away from theouter end of the lever 33, and the lever 33 can now respond to thespring 3l, the finger 35 of the lever 33 being restored to a positionunderneath the switch tongue I5, as shown .Fig 4. The operator can pushforward'on the accelerator pedal 4, and increase the fuel supply to themotor, at any time, without withdrawing lthe finger 35 of the lever 33from beneath the switch tongue I5 and causing the switch mechavnismI5-I4 to close the circuit of the starting moton It is only by thebackward or release movevment of the accelerator pedal 4 that the fingerasanio 35 of the lever 33 is withdrawn from beneath the switch tongueI5, as is shown in Fig. 6.

When the operator disconnects the ignition switch 8 by the operation ofthe handle 6 downwardly, the link 3I moves the slide 2'! to the left,see Figs. l and 5, and the cam 30 moves the piston rod I 8 and theswitch tongue I 5 upwardly, in the way hereinbefore described. When theoperator closes or connects the ignition switch 8 by raising the handle9, the link 3| carries the slide 2'I to the right, into the position ofFig. 5, so that the switch arm I5 is above the notch 29 1n the slide 2l,and then the operations hereinbefore described can take place.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. Starting apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising acurrent source, a starting motor adapted to receive current from saidsource, means for controlling the quantity of combustible mixturesupplied to the engine, an ignition switch, means for operating saidignition switch, a starter switch adapted when closed to connect thestarting motor with the current source, means operatively connected tosaid means for operating the ignition switch for causing the closing ofsaid starter switch, and means operable in conjunction with the mixturecontrolling means for controlling the operation of said starter switch.

2. Starting apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising acurrent source, a starting motor adapted to receive current from saidsource, means for controlling the quantity of combustible mixturesupplied to the engine, an ignition switch, means for operating saidignition switch, a starterswitch adapted when closed to connect thestarting motor with the current source, means mechanically connected tosaid means for operating the ignition switch, said meansY beingeffective to manually control the closing of the starter switch, andmeans operable in conjunction with themixture controlling means forcontrolling the operation of said starter switch. y

3. Starting apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising acurrent source, a starting motor adapted to receive current from saidsource, means for controlling the quantity of combustible mixturesupplied to the engine, an ignition switch, means for operating saidignition switch, a starter switch adapted when closed to connect thestarting motor with the current source, means operatively V'connected tosaid i means for operating the ignition switch for causing the closingof said starter switch, and means operable in conjunction with themixture controlling means for preventing the closing of the starterswitch when the mixturey controlling means occupies a predeterminedposition.

4. Starting apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising acurrent source, a starting motor adapted to receive current from saidsource, means for controlling kthe quantity of combustible mixturesupplied to the engine,V an ignition switch, means for operating saidignition switch, a starter switch adapted when closed to connect thestarting motor with the Acurrent source, means operatively connected tov said kmeans for operating the ignition switch yfor causing the closingof said starter switch,4 and means operable in Vconjunction with themixture controlling means for preventing the closing ofthe starter'switch when the 'mixture controlling means is moved tosubstantiallyfully open position. l

k5. Starting apparatus for internal combustion vengines comprising'acurrent source, a starting theignition switch, and means connected tothe 4accelerator pedal for controlling the operation o f Vsaid starterswitch.

6. Starting apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising acurrent source, a starting motor adapted to receive current from saidsource, a foot operated accelerator pedal for con- -trolling thequantity of fuel mixture supplied to 'the engine, an ignition switch,means for operating said ignition switch, a starter switch forconnecting the starting motor with the current source, means for causingthe closing of said starter switch, said last named means beingV'operatively connected to the means for operating the ignition switch,and adapted to closethe starter switch when the ignition switch isclosed,

and means connected to the accelerator pedal for preventing the closingof the ignition switch when the accelerator pedal is moved` to apredetermined position.

7. Starting apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising acurrent source, a starting motor adapted to receive current from saidsource, a foot operated accelerator pedal for controlling the quantityof fuel mixture supplied to the engine, an ignition switch, means foroperating said ignition switch, a starter switch for connecting thestarting motor with the current source, means for causing the closing ofsaid starter switch, said last named means being operatively connectedto the means for operating the ignition switch, and adapted to close thestarter switch when the ignition switch is closed, and means connectedtothe accelerator pedal for preventing the closing of the ignition switchwhen the accelerator pedal is substantially fully depressed.

8. Starting apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising acurrent source, a starting motor adapted to receive current from saidsource, a starter switch for connecting the starting motor with thecurrent source, means for controlling the supply of fuel mixture to theengine, an ignition switch, manually operable means for operating saidignition switch, means mechanically connected to said last named meansfor controlling the starter switch and adapted toY cause said starterswitch to be closed when the ignition switch is closed and meansoperable by the fuel mixture controlling means to prevent vthe closingof the starter switch under certain conditions.

9. Starting apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising acurrent source, a starting motor adapted to receive current from saidsource, a starter switch for connecting the starting motor with thecurrentl source, means for controlling the supply of fuel mixture to theengine, an ignition switch, manually operable means for operating saidignition switch, means mechanically connected to said last named meansfor controlling the starter switch and adapted` to cause said starterswitch to be closed when the ignition switch is closed and meansoperable -by the fuel mixture controlling means, when said 1mixturecontrolling means is moved substantially to a position to supply'theengine with a max-imum supplyV of fuel mixture, to prevent closing ofthe 'Starter switch. l 10. Starting apparatus for internalr combustionengines comprising a current source, a starting motor adapted tovreceive current from said source, a starter switch for connecting thestarting motorl with the current source, means for controlling thesupply of fuel irnixture to the engine, an ignitionV switch, manuallyoperable means for operatinglsaid ignition switch,` meansmechanicallyconnected to said last named means for controlling thestarter switch and adapted to cause said starter` switch to be closedwhen the ignition switch-is closed, means .normally operable by theengine when operating under `its own power, to Aprevent closing of thestarter switch and means operable by the fuel mixture controlling meansunder certain conditions for preventing closing of the starter switch.

11. Starting apparatus forinternal combustion engines .comprising-a'current source, a'starting motor ladapted tol receive current from saidsource, a starter switchfor connecting the starting motor with thecurrent source, vmeansfor controlling the supply of fuel mixture totheengine, an ignition switch, manually operable means for operatingsaid ignition switch, means mechanically connected to said last namedmeans for controlling the starter switch and adapted to cause saidstarter switch to be closed when the ignition switch is closed, meansnormally operable by the engine when operating under its own power, toprevent closing of the starter switch and means operable by the fuelmixture controlling means when positioned so as to supply a largequantity of mixture to the engine for preventing the closing of thestarter switch.

12. Starting apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising acurrent source, a starting motor adapted to receive current from saidvsource, a starter switch for connecting the starting motor with thelcurrent source, means for controlling the supply of fuel mixture to theengine, an ignition switch, manually operable means for operating saidignition switch, means mechanically connected to said last named meansfor controlling the starter switch and adapted to cause said starterswitch to be closed when the ignition switch is closed, means normallyoperative by engine suction when the engine is self operative, toprevent closing of the starter switch, and means operable by the fuelmixture controlling means, when the suction is ineffective to preventclosing of said starter switch.

13. Starting apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising acurrent source, a starting motor adapted to receive current from saidsource, means for controlling the supply of fuel mixture to the engine,an ignition switch and operating means therefor, a starter switch forconnecting the starting motor with the current source and having xed andmovable contacts', a member operatively connected to the operating meansfor the ignition switch and normally positioned in the path of movementof said movable contact when the ignition switch is open, but movablewhen the ignition switchv is closed to a position to permit movement ofsaid contact to close the starter switch, and suction operated means fornormally preventing the switch closing movement of said movable Contactwhen the engine is self operative.

14. Starting apparatus for internal combustion `engines comprising acurrent source, a Astarting motor adapted to receivecurrent from saidsource, means for controlling the supply of fuel mixture to the engine,an ignition'switchand .operating means therefor, a starter switch for`the switch closing movement of said movable contact under certainconditions.

15. Starting apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising acurrent source,V a starting motor adapted to receive current from saidsource, means for controlling the supply of fuel mixture to the engine,an ignition switch and loperating means therefor, a starter switch forconnecting the starting motor with the current l source and having fixedand movable contacts, a

member operatively connected to the operating .means for the ignitionswitch and normally positioned in the path of movement of said movablecontact when the ignition `switch is open, but movable when the ignitionswitch is closed to a position to permit movement of said contact Ytoclose the starter switch', suction operated means Afor norrnallx'rA,preventingAV the switch clos,.-

ing movement of s'aiclinovalavle contact whenthe engine is selfoperative 'and means operable by the mixture controllingV means forpreventing such movement of the movable contact when the suction isineifective.

16. Starting apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising acurrent source, a starting motor adapted to receive current vfrom saidsource, an accelerator pedal for controlling the fuel mixture suppliedto the enginean ignition switch and operating means therefor, a starterswitch for connecting the starting ntor with the current source andhaving fixed 'and movable contacts, a member operatively connected tothe operating means for the ignition switch and nor'- mally positionedin the path of movement of said movable contact when the ignition switchis open, but movable to a position when the ignition switch is closed topermit movement of said movable contact to close said starter switch,and a second member connected to the accelerator pedal and movablethereby into the path of movement of said movable contact when saidaccelerator pedal is depressed.

FREDERICK s'AXE. v

